Championship 2026-27 preview: the contenders, hopefuls and strugglers

<p>A mixed picture at the clubs coming down, more playoff places to encourage the pack – and the long shadow of spygate at Southampton</p><p>The relegated teams, naturally, will be the favourites to go back up but two have endured confusing summers. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/17/jarrod-bowen-stay-west-ham">Jarrod Bowen committing</a> to <strong>West Ham</strong> was a bonus and the quality available to Nuno Espírito Santo should make bouncing back straightforward for the calmest of the clubs to have dropped down. They brought in huge fees for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/24/transfers-newcastle-sign-aladji-bamba-monaco">Crysencio Summerville</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/30/tottenham-west-ham-mateus-fernandes-club-record-85m-manchester-united-transfers">Mateus Fernandes</a> but incoming activity has been pedestrian, which is the only minor cause of concern.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/13/championship-2026-27-preview-the-contenders-hopefuls-and-strugglers">Continue reading...</a>